Bhubaneswar, Feb 27: The Odisha Assembly today witnessed furore over fuel price hike with the opposition Congress asking both the Centre and the state government to reduce tax on the essential commodities.

Raising the issue in the Assembly during the zero hour, Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra questioned the fuel price hike when the price of crude oils is low in the international market.

When the price of diesel and petrol are available at less price in neighbouring countries, why the price is so high in India, he asked.

Stating that there was demand in the House earlier to include fuel and liquor under the goods and service tax (GST) regime, Mishra wanted to know why it was not done.

The Congress leader pointed out that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor had said that the tax rate should be reduced. But the Centre is not implementing the suggestion.

Mishra appealed both the Centre and Odisha government to reduce tax on the essential commodities as it’s responsibility of both the governments to keep the prices under control.

It may be mentioned here that deputy leader of BJP Legislature Party Bishnu Charan Sethi had opined in favour of fuel price hike. He had said that the Centre had hiked fuel price to sponsor various developmental and welfare projects post Covid pandemic. If the state government wants to bring down the fuel price, it may reduce the VAT on diesel and petrol.

On the other hand, the state government had expressed its inability to reduce the VAT on diesel and petrol stating that the tax proceeds are being utilised on the developmental and welfare activities.

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